Orientation-agnostic method to interface to  printed memory

ABSTRACT

An electronic system for identifying an article can include a printed memory having a plurality of contact pads electrically coupled to a plurality of landing pads positioned on a first side of a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate. The plurality of landing pads can be electrically coupled to a plurality of endless, concentric contact lines positioned on a second side of the PCB substrate through a plurality of vias that extend through a thickness of the PCB substrate and a plurality of traces that electrically couple the plurality of vias with the plurality of landing pads. To perform a memory operation on the printed memory, contact probes of a reader are physically and electrically contacted with the plurality of concentric contact lines. In some implementations, the memory operation can be performed on the printed memory irrespective of a rotational orientation of the printed memory relative to the reader.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of, and claims priority to, pendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/150,178, filed Oct. 2, 2018, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present teachings relate to the field of memory devices and productmarking, for example, products including a tag or label forauthentication and/or inventory control and, more particularly, toreaders and scanners for reading and/or writing data from/to a productmarked with an electronic memory, tag, or label.

BACKGROUND

Xerox Printed Memory is a highly secure printed label includingrewritable memory. In one exemplary use, the labels may be used forauthentication to determine whether a product is authentic or genuine toprevent counterfeiting. For example, the printed memory may be attachedas a label onto a consumable product, supply, shipment packaging,consumer product, document, customer-replaceable product, etc. Data fromthe printed memory may be read and compared to an expected result orvalue. If the value read from the printed memory by a memory readermatches the expected value, circuitry within the memory reader canidentify the printed memory (and thus the item to which it is attached)as authentic. In some uses, identification of the product as authenticmay be required before the product to which the printed memory isattached is allowed to function, in which case the memory reader, or ahost device that incorporates the memory reader as a subsystem, canallow or enable functionality of the product. If the value read from theprinted memory does not match the expected value, the circuitry withinthe reader or host device can designate the printed memory, and thus theitem to which the printed memory is attached, as not authentic, forexample, as counterfeit, gray market, not manufactured by an originalequipment manufacturer (OEM) or a licensed manufacturer (i.e., non-OEM),etc. In some uses, the memory reader or host device can disablefunctionality of the product if the label attached to the product isidentified as not authentic.

In another implementation, Xerox Printed Memory may be used to track aproduct through a manufacturing process and/or a supply chain. Thelabels can be programmed to mark individual items with a uniqueelectronic identifier that may be verified with a memory reading device.Other uses for Xerox Printed Memory are contemplated including, but notlimited to, smart consumables where an object is associated with datathat is later used by a base unit to improve or optimize performance,consumption records where bulk usage of a product supply is tracked,tracking of items or people outside of a manufacturing environment, etc.

A Xerox Printed Memory includes a layer of ferroelectric or ferritematerial (i.e., a ferroelectric layer) positioned between a plurality ofwiring lines (e.g., word lines and bit lines). A region of theferroelectric layer situated between each bit line and word line forms amemory cell. The memory may be written with one of two digital memorystates by applying a suitable write voltage to the wiring lines. Thememory state may be read by applying a suitable read voltage to thewiring lines through contact pads.

Various manufacturing processes may be used to form the ferroelectricmaterial. Depending on the manufacturing process used, the printedmemory device will display particular electrical characteristics. Forexample, for a given read voltage, different compositions of theferroelectric layer return different output values. The manufacture andcomposition of the memory itself is difficult to counterfeit andprovides secure and reliable anti-counterfeiting measures and reliableproduct tracking.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basicunderstanding of some aspects of one or more implementations of thepresent teachings. This summary is not an extensive overview, nor is itintended to identify key or critical elements of the present teachings,nor to delineate the scope of the disclosure. Rather, its primarypurpose is merely to present one or more concepts in simplified form asa prelude to the detailed description presented later.

In an implementation of the present teachings, a memory device include aprinted memory having a substrate, a plurality of contact pads overlyingthe substrate, a plurality of wiring lines electrically coupled to theplurality of contact pads, and ferroelectric layer overlying thesubstrate. The memory device further includes a printed circuit having aplurality of concentric, endless contact lines electrically coupled tothe plurality of contact pads.

Optionally, the plurality of wiring lines can include at least one bitline and a plurality of word lines. At least a portion of theferroelectric layer can be positioned between the at least one bit lineand the plurality of word lines, where the ferroelectric layerpositioned between the at least one bit line and each word line of theplurality of word lines forms a memory cell, and each memory cell isindividually addressable through two of the concentric, endless contactlines.

The plurality of concentric, endless contact lines can be a plurality ofcircular concentric, endless contact lines. Further, the printed circuitcan be positioned on a first side of a dielectric substrate and a secondside of the dielectric substrate. Additionally, the plurality of contactpads can be electrically coupled to a plurality of landing pads on thefirst side of the dielectric substrate. The plurality of concentric,endless contact lines can be electrically coupled to the plurality oflanding pads with a plurality of vias that extend through a thickness ofthe dielectric substrate and a plurality of traces positioned on thefirst side of the dielectric substrate.

In another implementation, an electronic system for identifying anarticle, includes a printed memory having a substrate, a plurality ofcontact pads overlying the substrate, a plurality of wiring lineselectrically coupled to the plurality of contact pads, and ferroelectriclayer overlying the substrate. The electronic system further includes aprinted circuit having a plurality of concentric, endless contact lineselectrically coupled to the plurality of contact pads, and a readerconfigured to perform a memory operation on the printed memory. Thereader includes a read head having a plurality of contact probes forphysically and electrically contacting the plurality of concentric,endless contact lines.

Optionally, the plurality of concentric, endless contact lines can be aplurality of circular concentric, endless contact lines. The electronicsystem can further include a printed circuit board (PCB) substratehaving a first side and second side opposite the first side, wherein theplurality of concentric, endless contact pads are positioned on thesecond side, and a plurality of landing pads positioned on the firstside of the PCB substrate, wherein the plurality of contact pads arephysically and electrically coupled to the plurality of landing pads.

Further optionally, the electronic system can further include aplurality of vias that extend through a thickness of the PCB substrate,and a plurality of traces electrically coupled to the plurality oflanding pads and the plurality of vias, wherein the plurality ofconcentric, endless contact lines can be electrically coupled to theplurality of landing pads by the plurality of vias and the plurality oftraces.

The reader can further include a contoured casing configured to match ashape of the article, where the read head is optionally mounted to thecasing. During a memory operation on the printed memory, a first centerof the PCB substrate can be axially aligned with a second center of theread head.

The electronic system can further include a plurality of dimplespositioned on one of the PCB substrate and the read head and a pluralityof detents positioned on the other of the PCB substrate and the readhead, wherein the plurality of dimples and the plurality of detents areconfigured for the axially aligning of the first center of the PCBsubstrate with the second center of the read head.

The electronic system can further include a first magnet positioned atthe first center of the PCB substrate and a second magnet positioned atthe second center of the read head, wherein the first magnet and thesecond magnet are configured for the axially aligning of the firstcenter of the PCB substrate with the second center of the read head.

The plurality of concentric, endless contact lines can be a plurality ofcircular concentric, endless contact lines, and the electronic systemcan be configured to perform a memory operation using the read headirrespective of a rotational orientation of the read head relative tothe printed memory around the second center of the read head.

In another implementation of the present teachings, a method ofperforming a memory operation on a printed memory includes physicallyand electrically contacting a plurality of endless, concentric contactlines with a plurality of contact probes of a reader, initiating thememory operation using the reader, and placing a voltage across a bitline and a word line of the printed memory using the reader to performthe memory operation on a ferroelectric layer positioned between the bitline and the word line. An electric charge applied to the printed memoryby the reader extends through an electrical pathway formed by theplurality of contact probes, the plurality of endless, concentriccontact lines, a plurality of vias electrically coupled to the pluralityof endless, concentric contact lines, a plurality of traces electricallycoupled to the plurality of vias, a plurality of landing padselectrically coupled to the plurality of traces, a plurality of contactpads of the printed memory, the bit line, and the word line.

Optionally, the plurality of vias can extend through a thickness of aprinted circuit board (PCB) substrate, the plurality of landing pads canbe positioned on a first side of the PCB substrate, and the plurality ofendless, concentric contact lines can be positioned on a second side ofthe PCB substrate. The plurality of contact probes can be configured tophysically contact the plurality of endless, concentric contact lines atany rotational orientation relative to the printed memory to result in asuccessful memory operation being performed on the printed memory by thereader.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in, and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate implementations of the presentteachings and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the disclosure. In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a printed memory such as a Xerox PrintedMemory.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of a printed circuit positioned on afirst side of a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another portion of the printed circuit formedon a second side of the PCB substrate, where the second side is oppositethe first side.

FIG. 4 is a cross section along 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross section along 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a read head of a printed memory reader.

FIG. 7 is a cross section along 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 are perspective depictions of a reader and an article includingthe printed memory.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a portion of a printed circuit and a read headaccording to another implementation of the present teachings.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a portion of a printed circuit and a read headaccording to another implementation of the present teachings.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a portion of a printed circuit and a read headaccording to another implementation of the present teachings.

It should be noted that some details of the figures have been simplifiedand are drawn to facilitate understanding of the present teachingsrather than to maintain strict structural accuracy, detail, and scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary implementations of thepresent teachings, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever convenient, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

As used herein, “data” refers to any type of information, signal, orother result that is obtained from or sent to an electrical device suchas a memory device, an integrated circuit, or another electrical device,or any information obtained from monitoring, interrogating, querying, ormeasuring, etc., an electrical device. The term “data” includes digitaldata, analog data, voltage values, current values, resistance values,vector values, scalar values, and/or flux values.

An example of a memory device 100, for example, a printed memory (i.e.,printed memory device) 100 such as a Xerox Printed Memory 100 isdepicted in the plan view of FIG. 1. The structure and function of theXerox Printed Memory 100 is known and is only briefly discussed herein.The FIG. 1 printed memory 100 includes a substrate 102, for example, aflexible dielectric substrate 102, such as a flexible polymer substrate,that may include an adhesive backing layer to aid in attachment of theprinted memory 100 to a surface of a product, a plurality of wiringlines (e.g., word lines and bit lines) 104 and a ferroelectric layer 106directly interposed or positioned between the word lines and the bitlines. A memory cell that stores the logic bit or logic state isprovided by and within the ferroelectric layer 106 at the physicallocation that is interposed between the intersection of each word lineand bit line. It will thus be appreciated that the word lines and bitlines do not physically contact each other, but are physically separatedby the ferroelectric layer 106. The printed memory 100 depicted in FIG.1 includes ten wiring lines 104 (five word lines and five bit lines),and thus the FIG. 1 device includes 25 memory cells and may thus store25 bits of information. Each wiring line 104 terminates in a contact pad108. Each memory cell can be individually addressed through two of thecontact pads (i.e., through one word line and one bit line). Theplurality of contact pads 108 may be arranged in a rectangular shape intwo or more rows and columns as depicted, or they may be arranged in asingle column. It will be appreciated that a Xerox Printed Memory mayinclude other structures that are not described or depicted forsimplicity, while various depicted structures may be removed ormodified. Each memory cell of the printed memory 100 may be read byapplying a suitable read voltage to two of the wiring lines 104 (i.e.,to one word line and one bit line) and measuring an electrical response.To apply the read voltage, the plurality of contact pads 108 can bephysically and/or electrically contacted with probe contacts of areader. A voltage is applied across the contact pads 108 through probecontacts, and the resulting response is measured. Each memory cell maybe individually addressed during a read cycle or write cycle(hereinafter, a memory operation), and two or more, or all, of thememory cells in the memory array may be read or written simultaneouslyor serially.

The contact pads 108 of the printed memory 100 and other electricaldevices can be formed using a carbon-impregnated composite, electricallyconductive inks such as silver nanoparticle ink, or one or more othersuitable materials. These contact pads 108 can become scratched anddegrade from repeated physical contact with, for example, electricalprobes of a reader. Further, when direct physical contact is madebetween the reader and the printed memory 100, the reader must becorrectly oriented with the printed memory 100.

An implementation of the present teachings provides an interface betweenthe reader and the contact pads 108 of the printed memory 100. Theinterface eliminates the need to physically contact the reader with thecontact pads 108, thus decreasing wear from repeated contact with thecontact pads 108. Further, the interface is agnostic with respect torotational orientation of the reader with the contact pads 108 of theprinted memory 100. Thus the printed memory 100 can be electricallyaddressed (i.e., written to or read from) in any position regardless orirrespective of the rotational orientation of the reader relative to theprinted memory 100.

FIG. 2 is a plan view depicting a first side 200 of a printed circuitboard (PCB) 202 including a printed circuit 203, and FIG. 3 is a planview depicting a second side 300 of the PCB 202, where the second side300 is opposite the first side 200. While the PCB 202 is depicted ashaving a circular perimeter “P,” which may provide various advantages asdiscussed below, it will be appreciated that PCB's having a perimeter Pshape other than circular are contemplated. The PCB 202 may be formed onand within a PCB substrate 204, where the PCB substrate 204 is anelectrical insulator (e.g., an electrical dielectric). The first side200 includes a plurality of landing pads 206, a plurality of traces 208,and a plurality of vias 210, where each of these structures iselectrically conductive. In this implementation, each landing pad 206 iselectrically connected to (i.e., electrically coupled with) one of thevias 210 by one of the traces 208. For purposes of explanation, theplurality of vias 210 are each uniquely identified in FIGS. 2 and 3 witha reference number 210A-210J. Further, each via 210 of the plurality ofvias 210A-210J is located at a different distance from a focus or center“C₁” of the PCB 202, and extend through a thickness of the PCB substrate204 from the first side 200 to the second side 300. The landing pads 206and traces 208 can be or include a single metal layer or two or morelayers. The plurality of vias 210 extend through the PCB substrate 204from the first side 200 to the second side 300. It will be appreciatedthat the traces 208 may be formed over the vias 210 such that the vias210 are not visible from the first side 200 of the PCB 202, in whichcase the vias 210 are depicted in FIG. 2 as being visible for purposesof explanation.

The landing pads 206 can be designed to be of similar size and shape asthe contact pads 108 of the printed memory 100. Further, the number oflanding pads 206 can be the same as the number of contact pads 108which, for the present implementation, includes ten contact pads 108 andten landing pads 206, although more or less than ten of each iscontemplated. During use, the contact pads 108 of the printed memory 100and the landing pads 206 of the PCB 202 are electrically coupled asdescribed below.

FIG. 3 depicts the obverse side of the FIG. 2 depiction, where the FIG.2 structure is rotated 180° horizontally with respect to the page toresult in the FIG. 3 depiction. The structure of FIG. 3 includes aplurality of endless electrically conductive contact lines 302, whereeach contact line 302 is physically spaced and electrically isolatedfrom every other contact line 302. For purposes of the presentteachings, an “endless” electrically conductive contact line is one thatis continuous and has no non-conductive gap along the contact line, andencloses a dielectric region. In FIG. 3, the plurality of contact lines302 provided on the circular PCB substrate 204 are formed as a pluralityof concentric rings 302.

As depicted in FIG. 3, each contact line 302 is electrically connectedto (i.e., electrically coupled with) one of the vias 210. Thus theprinted circuit 203 includes an electrical pathway that is establishedbetween each contact line 302, through one of the vias 210, through oneof the traces 208, and to one of the landing pads 206. It will beappreciated that the plurality of contact lines 302 may be formed overthe plurality of vias 210 such that the vias 210 are not visible fromthe second side 300 of the PCB 202, in which case the vias 210 aredepicted in FIG. 3 as being visible for purposes of explanation.

The structure of FIGS. 2 and 3 can be manufactured by one of ordinaryskill in the art using electronic fabrication techniques known in theart, such as printed circuit board technology. It will be appreciatedthat an actual PCB can include other features not discussed or depictedfor simplicity, while other depicted structures can be removed ormodified. Further, the example implementation depicted in the figuresincludes ten contact pads 108, ten landing pads 206, ten traces 208, tenvias 210, and ten contact lines 302, although implementations includingmore or fewer than ten of each structure are contemplated.

FIG. 4 is a cross section along 4-4 of FIG. 2 through via 210E. FIG. 4has been magnified from the scale of FIG. 2 for clarity.

FIG. 5 is a cross section along 5-5 of FIG. 2 after electricallycoupling the contact pads 108 of the printed memory 100 to the landingpads 206 of the PCB 202 using an electrical conductor 500. FIG. 5 hasbeen magnified from the scale of FIG. 2 for clarity. The electricalconductor 500 can be or include any suitable material, for example,solder, an electrically conductive paste, or another electricalconductor. Thus, once the contact pads 108 of the printed memory 100have been electrically coupled to the landing pads 206 using theelectrical conductor 500, an electrical pathway is established betweenthe plurality of contact pads 108 and the plurality of contact lines302.

FIG. 6 depicts a read head 600 that may be part of a reader. The readhead 600 is configured to perform a memory operation on the printedmemory 100 using the printed circuit 203 of the PCB 202. The reader maybe a standalone fixed or portable reader, or the reader may be asubcomponent of another electronic device such as, without limitation,an electronic device such as a printer, a copier, a coffeemaker, etc.The read head 600 includes a plurality of electrically conductivecontact probes 602 that are positioned to protrude from a supportingsubstrate 604 such as a read head disk. The contact probes 602 canextend through the supporting substrate 604 as depicted in FIG. 7, andelectrically connect with memory operation circuitry such as read and/orwrite circuitry (not individually depicted for simplicity). While FIGS.6 and 7 depict the contact probes 602 laterally aligned on a surface 606of the read head disk 604, the contact probes 602 can be positioned atother locations around the read head disk 604 such that they are notlaterally aligned but are spaced and distributed around a focus orcenter “C₂” of the read head disk 604. It will be appreciated that eachcontact probe 602 is positioned at a different radius away from thecenter C₂ of the read head disk 604, although redundant contact probesat identical radii from C₂ but at different locations on the read headdisk 604 are contemplated.

FIG. 6 depicts ten contact probes 602 that are configured to physicallycontact the ten contact lines 302 depicted in FIG. 3, therebyestablishing electrical contact with the ten contact pads 108 of theprinted memory 100. FIG. 7 is a cross section along 7-7 of FIG. 6, withthe contact probes 602 physically and electrically contacting theplurality of contact lines 302 of the PCB 202. In the FIG. 7, via 210Cand the associated trace 208 are, by chance, located at the depictedposition of the 7-7 cross section.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, it will be appreciated that with C₁ andC₂ axially aligned with each other (where the axial alignment allowssome lateral offset within an allowable tolerance), when the second side300 of the PCB 202 faces and is parallel with the surface 606 of theread head 600, any rotational orientation of the PCB 202 relative to theread head 600 about C₁ and C₂ is sufficient to establish electricalcontact between the contact probes 602 and the contact lines 302.Additionally, because the contact lines 302 are electrically coupledwith the contact pads 108 of the printed memory 100, any rotationalorientation of the printed memory and the read head 600 is sufficient toestablish electrical contact between the read head 600 and the printedmemory 100. Thus each memory cell at the intersection of one of the bitlines and one of the word lines can be individually addressed throughphysical contact with two of the contact lines 302, a first of which iselectrically coupled to one of the word lines and a second of which iselectrically coupled to one of the bit lines.

Thus, it will be appreciated that when the plurality contact probes 602of the read head 600 of the reader 800 physically and electricallycontact the plurality of endless, concentric contact lines 302, anelectrical pathway is established between the reader 800 and the printedmemory 100. During a memory operation on the printed memory 100 usingthe reader 800, an electric charge is applied to the printed memory 100through the electrical pathway. The electrical pathway is at leastpartially formed by, and extends through, the plurality of contactprobes 602, the plurality of endless, concentric contact lines 302, theplurality of vias 210 that are electrically coupled to the plurality ofendless, concentric contact lines 302, the plurality of traces 208 thatare electrically coupled to the plurality of vias 210, and the pluralityof landing pads 206 that are electrically coupled to the plurality oftraces 208, the plurality of contact pads 108 using the electricalconductor 500, and the wiring lines 104 (e.g., at least one bit line anda plurality of word lines). The electrical pathway further extends fromthe contact pads 108, to the plurality of wiring lines 104, and to theferroelectric layer 106 that is positioned between the wiring lines 104(i.e., between the word lines and the bit lines). It will be appreciatedthat the plurality of contact probes 602 can physically contact theplurality of endless, concentric contact lines 302 at any rotationalorientation relative to the printed memory 100 to result in a successfulmemory operation being performed on the printed memory 100 by the reader800.

Various techniques for establishing axial alignment between C₁ of thePCB 202 relative to C₂ of the read head 600 are contemplated. Forexample, FIG. 8, depicts a reader 800 including a casing 802 having aconcave recess 804 defined at least in part by a sidewall 806 thatintersects a reader surface 808, where the read head 600 is mounted tothe reader surface 808 of the casing 802. FIG. 8 further depicts the PCB202 mounted to a surface 850 of a convex portion 852 of an article 854.During a memory operation on the printed memory 100, the convex portion852 of the article 854 is inserted into the recess 804 of the reader 800until the contact probes 602 of the read head 600 physically andelectrically contact the contact lines 302 of the PCB 202. It will beappreciated that the contact probes 602 will physically and electricallycontact the contact lines 302 in any rotational orientation about C₁ ofthe read head 600 relative to C₂ of the PCB 202, through 360° ofrotation. Similarly, a memory operation can be performed using the readhead 600 irrespective of the rotational orientation around C₂ of theread head 600 relative to the printed memory 100 (FIG. 1), from 0°through 360°. Thus, in this implementation, the casing 802 of the reader800 is shaped or contoured to fit or match the shape of the article 854to which the PCB 202 and the printed memory 100 is attached. During amemory operation on the printed memory 100, the casing 802 is placedonto or over the article such that physical and electrical contact isestablished between the read head 600 and the PCB 202, similar to thatdepicted in FIG. 7, and thus between the reader 800 and the printedmemory 100.

Additionally, during a memory operation, the contact pads 108 of theprinted memory 100 are not physically contacted with the contact probes602 of the reader 800. The contact lines 302 of the PCB 202 can bemanufactured from a material that is more resistant to damage than thecontact pads 108 of the printed memory. For example, while the contactpads 108 are conventionally formed from a carbon-impregnated compositeor an electrically conductive ink such as a silver nanoparticle ink thatcan be easily scratched and damaged from repeated contact by a reader,the contact lines 302 can be manufactured from a more resilient materialsuch as copper, aluminum, or another suitable material.

FIG. 9 depicts another technique for aligning the read head 600 with thePCB 202, for example, so that C₁ is axially aligned with C₂. Thisimplementation employs one or more detents 900 and one or more dimples902 to align the read head 600 with the PCB 202. While the figuresdepict the detents 900 positioned on the PCB 202 and the dimples 902positioned on the read head 600 for purposes of explanation, it will beappreciated that the detents 900 and dimples 902 may be positioned oneither or both of the PCB 202 and the read head 600. The detents 900 onPCB 202 can align with dimples 902 on PCB 202 by first having PCB 202 bephysically contacted, mated, and/or aligned with the center of PCB 600followed by rotating either PCB 202 or PCB 600 clockwise or counterclockwise. For a user, the rotation can be performed until the userdetects a tactile sensation of resistance during rotation which wouldindicate the detent and dimples are aligned. For an automatic reader,the rotation can be completed when the resistance is detected by thereader electronically.

FIG. 10 depicts another technique for aligning the read head 600 withthe PCB 202, for example, so that C₁ is axially aligned with C₂. Thisimplementation employs a first magnet 1000 on the PCB 202, for example,at the center C₁ of the PCB 202, and a second magnet 1002 on the readhead 600, for example, at the center C₂ of the read head 600. The magnet1000 on PCB 202 will be opposite magnetic polarity to that of magnet1002 on PCB 600. The alignment of magnet 1000 on PCB 202 and magnet 1002on PCB 600 can be detected when PCB 202 is physically contacted, mated,and/or aligned with PCB 600 with the objective of aligning centers ofboth PCB 202 and PCB 600. The magnet 1000 on PCB 202 will be drawn bymagnetic force towards magnet 1002 on PCB 600 to align PCB 202 with PCB600. For a user, when magnet 1000 and magnet 1002 are aligned, thusaligning PCB 202 and PCB 600, a tactile sensation of resistance will bedetected when the user attempts to move the PCB's 202, 600 apart. For anautomatic reader, the resistance can be detected electronically.

As discussed above, with a plurality of circular concentric, endlesscontact lines 302, a memory operation can be performed on the printedmemory 100 by the reader 800 continuously through any position (e.g.,through any degree of rotation) from 0° through 360° of rotation of thecontact probes 602 relative to the contact lines 302 about the centerpoints C₁ and C₂. However, some articles to which the PCB 202 isattached my lend themselves to other shapes of contact lines, forexample, a PCB and contact lines formed with other shapes such as oval,as a smooth polygon, or with three or more sides (e.g., triangular,square, rectangular, pentagonal, star-shaped), or from three to twentysides, rather than having a circular shape. While a different shape maydecrease the number of read head positions available for a memoryoperation on the printed memory, the non-circular shape may be preferredin some uses. For example, FIG. 11 depicts a hexagonal PCB 1100 withendless, concentric contact lines 1102 formed as hexagons. FIG. 11further depicts a read head 1150 having contact probes 1152 that arespaced to provide physical and electrical contact to each of the contactlines 1102. The configuration of FIG. 11 allows the read head 1150 toperform a memory operation with the printed memory 100 in any one of sixdifferent rotational positions about C₁ relative to the PCB 1100.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is contemplated that, for a circularPCB 202, a diameter of the PCB 202 can be greater than or equal to adiagonal measurement of the substrate 102 of the printed memory 100 sothat the outer perimeter of the substrate 102 (and thus the outerperimeter of the printed memory 100) fits onto the first side 200 of thePCB 202. Referring to FIG. 1, the substrate 102 of the printed memory100 can have a width of from about 10 millimeters (mm) to about 20 mm,for example from about 13.5 mm to about 14.5 mm, and a height of fromabout 0.05 mm to about 0.3 mm, for example from about 0.1 mm to about0.2 mm. The PCB substrate 204 can have a diameter of about 15 mm toabout 30 mm, or from about 15 mm or larger, or from about 17 mm orlarger. Referring to FIG. 3, each contact line 302 can have a width offrom about 75 micrometers (μm) to about 200 μm, for example from about101 μm to about 178 μm. Referring to FIG. 6, each contact probe 602 canhave a width of from about 75 μm to about 200 μm, for example from about101 μm to about 130 μm. Other dimensions are contemplated depending onthe technology used and the specific application to which the presentteachings are applied.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forththe broad scope of the present teachings are approximations, thenumerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported asprecisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently containscertain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation foundin their respective testing measurements. Moreover, all ranges disclosedherein are to be understood to encompass any and all sub-ranges subsumedtherein. For example, a range of “less than 10” can include any and allsub-ranges between (and including) the minimum value of zero and themaximum value of 10, that is, any and all sub-ranges having a minimumvalue of equal to or greater than zero and a maximum value of equal toor less than 10, e.g., 1 to 5. In certain cases, the numerical values asstated for the parameter can take on negative values. In this case, theexample value of range stated as “less than 10” can assume negativevalues, e.g. −1, −2, −3, −10, −20, −30, etc.

While the present teachings have been illustrated with respect to one ormore implementations, alterations and/or modifications can be made tothe illustrated examples without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims. For example, it will be appreciated that while theprocess is described as a series of acts or events, the presentteachings are not limited by the ordering of such acts or events. Someacts may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other actsor events apart from those described herein. Also, not all processstages may be required to implement a methodology in accordance with oneor more aspects or implementations of the present teachings. It will beappreciated that structural components and/or processing stages can beadded or existing structural components and/or processing stages can beremoved or modified. Further, one or more of the acts depicted hereinmay be carried out in one or more separate acts and/or phases.Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including,” “includes,”“having,” “has,” “with,” or variants thereof are used in either thedetailed description and the claims, such terms are intended to beinclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” The term “atleast one of” is used to mean one or more of the listed items can beselected. As used herein, the term “one or more of” with respect to alisting of items such as, for example, A and B, means A alone, B alone,or A and B. Further, in the discussion and claims herein, the term “on”used with respect to two materials, one “on” the other, means at leastsome contact between the materials, while “over” means the materials arein proximity, but possibly with one or more additional interveningmaterials such that contact is possible but not required. Neither “on”nor “over” implies any directionality as used herein. The term“conformal” describes a coating material in which angles of theunderlying material are preserved by the conformal material. The term“about” indicates that the value listed may be somewhat altered, as longas the alteration does not result in nonconformance of the process orstructure to the illustrated implementation. Finally, “exemplary”indicates the description is used as an example, rather than implyingthat it is an ideal. Other implementations of the present teachings willbe apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of thespecification and practice of the disclosure herein. It is intended thatthe specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with atrue scope and spirit of the present teachings being indicated by thefollowing claims.

Terms of relative position as used in this application are defined basedon a plane parallel to the conventional plane or working surface of aworkpiece, regardless of the orientation of the workpiece. The term“horizontal” or “lateral” as used in this application is defined as aplane parallel to the conventional plane or working surface of aworkpiece, regardless of the orientation of the workpiece. The term“vertical” refers to a direction perpendicular to the horizontal. Termssuch as “on,” “side” (as in “sidewall”), “higher,” “lower,” “over,”“top,” and “under” are defined with respect to the conventional plane orworking surface being on the top surface of the workpiece, regardless ofthe orientation of the workpiece.

1. An electronic device for interfacing with an electric circuit, theelectronic device comprising: a substrate comprising a first side, asecond side, and a thickness that extends from the first side to thesecond side, wherein the substrate is an electrical insulator; aplurality of concentric, endless contact lines overlying the first sideof the substrate; a plurality of traces overlying the second side of thesubstrate; and a plurality of vias extending through the substrate fromthe first side to the second side, wherein each via of the plurality ofvias electrically couples one of the contact lines with one of thetraces.
 2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein, at least in planview, each of the plurality of concentric, endless contact linesencloses an electrical insulator region of the substrate.
 3. Theelectronic device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of landingpads overlying the second side of the substrate and electrically coupledto the plurality of traces, wherein the plurality of concentric, endlesscontact lines are electrically coupled to the plurality of landing padsthrough the plurality of vias and the plurality of traces.
 4. Theelectronic device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of landing pads areelectrically coupled to a memory device.
 5. The electronic device ofclaim 4, configured such that the memory device can be read from and/orwritten to through physical contact with the plurality of concentric,endless contact lines.
 6. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein thememory device comprises a ferroelectric layer.
 7. The electronic deviceof claim 1, wherein the plurality of contact lines are electricallyisolated, each from the others.
 8. An electronic system, comprising: afirst circuit; a second circuit; and an electronic device forelectrically coupling the first circuit with the second circuit, whereinthe electronic device comprises: a substrate comprising a first side, asecond side, and a thickness that extends from the first side to thesecond side, wherein the substrate is an electrical insulator; aplurality of concentric, endless contact lines overlying the first sideof the substrate; a plurality of traces overlying the second side of thesubstrate; and a plurality of vias extending through the substrate fromthe first side to the second side, wherein each via of the plurality ofvias electrically couples one of the contact lines with one of thetraces.
 9. The electronic system of claim 8, wherein the first circuitcomprises a memory device comprising a plurality of memory cells,wherein each memory cell is individually addressable using exactly twoof the concentric, endless contact lines.
 10. The electronic system ofclaim 9, wherein the memory device comprises a flexible dielectricsubstrate, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, and aferroelectric layer positioned between the plurality of word lines andthe plurality of bit lines.
 11. The electronic system of claim 9,configured such that the memory device can be read from and/or writtento through physical contact with the plurality of concentric, endlesscontact lines.
 12. The electronic system of claim 8, wherein theplurality of contact lines are electrically isolated, each from theothers.
 13. The electronic system of claim 8, wherein the second circuitis part of a reader configured to perform a memory operation on thefirst circuit.
 14. The electronic system of claim 13, wherein the readercomprises a read head, the electronic system comprising: a first magnetpositioned at a first center of the concentric, endless contact lines;and a second magnet positioned on the read head, wherein the firstmagnet and the second magnet are configured to axially align thesubstrate of the electronic device with the read head.
 15. Theelectronic system of claim 8, wherein, at least in plan view, each ofthe plurality of concentric, endless contact lines encloses anelectrical insulator region of the substrate.
 16. The electronic systemof claim 8, further comprising a plurality of landing pads overlying thesecond side of the substrate and electrically coupled to the pluralityof traces, wherein the plurality of concentric, endless contact linesare electrically coupled to the plurality of landing pads through theplurality of vias and the plurality of traces.
 17. A method forelectrically interfacing a first circuit with a second circuit,comprising: physically contacting a plurality of contact probes with aplurality of concentric, endless contact lines, wherein: the pluralityof concentric, endless contact lines are electrically coupled with thefirst circuit; and the plurality of contact probes are electricallycoupled with the second circuit; applying a voltage across the pluralityof contact probes and the plurality of concentric, endless contact linesto electrically interface the first circuit with the second circuit; andperforming an electrical operation on the first circuit using the secondcircuit.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of contactprobes and the plurality of concentric, endless contact lines areconfigured such that the plurality of contact probes can physicallycontact the plurality of concentric, endless contact lines in aplurality of different rotational orientations.
 19. The method of claim17, wherein the plurality of contact probes are part of a read head of areader and the method further comprises: axially aligning the pluralityof contact probes with the plurality of concentric, endless contactlines in any rotational orientation; and while the plurality of contactprobes are axially aligned with the plurality of concentric, endlesscontact lines, physically contacting each contact probe of the pluralityof contact probes with one of the contact lines of the plurality ofcontact lines.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein: the axially aligningcomprises use of a first magnet positioned at a first center of theconcentric, endless contact lines and a second magnet positionedrelative to the plurality of contact probes; and during the axiallyaligning, a magnetic force attracts the first magnet and the secondmagnet together to axially align the plurality of contact probes withthe plurality of contact lines.